It’s Memorial Day weekend!
That means that this weekend has three days in it, which if my math is correct, equals about 33 percent more days than normal weekends. It also means that some of you guys are heading out to a lake or a river, or some other body of water. Some of you will hang out on a boat.
For those of you not heading to the lake, there are a ton of good shows in town to check out, the weather is going to be incredible, and you might as well go crazy, ’cause you can spend the entire day on Monday recovering if you need to. Three-day weekend!
Friday
Let’s talk happy hour. George’s is kicking off the three-day weekend with the Nace Brothers in the garden at 6 p.m., and Oreo Blue will be in the lounge at 7 p.m. Later on, The Dead Kenny Gs will play the Primus after-party (they’re also opening for Priumus at the AMP).
Also during happy hour, Red Ambition will be at Rogue at 6 p.m. Later on, Damn Arkansan, The Great Scotts and Carter Sampson are playing. There’s also an Ozark Poetry Slam event, with the home team taking on some Kansas poets. The poetry slam is called Verbal Kombat (with a K), and DJ Ultrasonic Nozzle will be providing the jams.
If you like bass-playing freaks, you’ve probably already got tickets to see one of the best bass-playing freaks the world has ever known at the AMP Friday night. Les Claypool (bass freak) and the rest of Primus will be there, along with the Dead Kenny Gs.
If you feel like catching some locally-grown films, you could head down to Nadine Baum Studios for the Grow a Film Screenings & Awards presentation, presented by Seedling Film Association and Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere. The event will feature five local short films with an art-inspired-by-nature theme, and it’s free to attend.
How about a benefit for our neighbors in Joplin? Cletus Got Shot, Swimming, Memphis Pencils, David’s Pegasus, Messy Sparkles, and The Kopecky Family Band will be at Smoke & Barrel Saturday beginning at 6 p.m., and all of the proceeds will go to Red Cross efforts to help the tornado victims.
Saturday
The weather is looking perfect for a Saturday at the Farmers’ Market this weekend on the Fayetteville square. While you’re there, you can pick up tickets to the Omni Center’s Peace Garden Tour.
Saturday night, the folks at Art Amiss will celebrate the release of a new local compilation, featuring 12 great Arkansas bands at Smoke & Barrel. For $3, you get a copy of the CD and admission to see three bands from the compilation, Basement Brew, Sean Fresh and Damn Arkansan.
There’s another opportunity to help out in Joplin Saturday night at George’s, while you check out about seven more bands. Brought To You By Us, Silent Waits the Archer, Jarris, Dreamfast, Chemical Dicipline, J0n3z, and Abacinated are playing this one, $3 gets you in the door, and proceeds benefit the Red Cross relief efforts in Joplin.
There’s a big show at the Lightbulb Club Saturday night as well, with John Congleton’s (The Paper Chase) new band, The Nighty Nite with locals Glory Bones. It’s The Nighty Nite’s first show ever, and it’s here in Fayetteville. Read an interview with John here.
There’s an all-day, all-ages event at the The Showcase, inside the NWA Mall on Saturday as well. It’s called The Grandiose Music Fest, there are about 20 bands playing, and admission is $12.
Sunday
On Sunday, old-timey blues band Lightnin’ Resophonic Road Show will be at Greenhouse Grille during brunch.
Later on, Rock Bottom Ramblers are at George’s for Monster Mug Night. You probably don’t have to work on Monday, so keep that in mind.
There’s more below, and feel free to add anything we’ve missed in the comments. Happy three-day weekend.
- Friday, May 27
- Mickey Finn’s: Will Brand
- Greenhouse Grille: Walter Savage Jazz
- AMP: Primus / Dead Kenny Gs
- Foghorn’s on College: Effron White
- George’s Majestic Lounge: Dead Kenny Gs / Nace Brothers / Oreo Blue
- Jose’s: Staggering Odds
- Hjem Restaurant: Brick Fields
- Nadine Baum Studios: Grow a Film Screenings & Awards presentation
- JJ’s Grill: Nu UnYun
- Rogue Pizza Co.: Red Ambition / Damn Arkansan / Great Scotts / Carter Sampson / Verbal Combat w/ DJ Ultrasonic Nozzle
- Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Cletus Got Shot, Swimming, Memphis Pencils, David’s Pegasus, Messy Sparkles, and The Kopecky Family Band
- Saturday, May 28
- Fayetteville Square: Farmers’ Market
- Walton Arts Center: Icelandic Sheep (Kindur) by TPO
- Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall: Suzuki Music School of Arkansas Strings Final Concert
- Jammin’ Java: Odis Elevator & The Flights
- The Showcase: Grandiose Music Fest
- George’s Majestic Lounge: Silent Waits the Archer, Jarris, Dreamfast, Chemical Dicipline, J0n3z, Abacinated
- Jose’s: Boston Mountain Playboys
- Savor: Sarah Hughes
- GoodFolk: Bill Staines
- JJ’s Grill: Keith Nicholson
- The Lightbulb Club: The Nighty Nite / Glory Bones
- Rogue Pizza Co.: Destry / Communipaw / The Commoners / Michael Tolcher
- Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Art Amiss CD compilation release party
- Sunday, May 29
- Greenhouse Grille: Lightnin’ Resophonic Road Show
- Fayetteville Public Library: Piano concert “Great Arkansas Composers”
- Arsaga’s on Crossover: The Genuwines
- George’s Majestic Lounge: Rock Bottom Ramblers
